Dock crane



G A. COLLINS.

DOCK CRANE.

APPLICATION men n:c.a.19m.

1 ,436,86 1 Pawnwd Nov. 28, 1922.

G A- COLUNS.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

asncns snzu a. IJL .23 L

Inuenfbn relation along Patented Nov. 28, 1922. UNlTED STATES GLENVILL'E A. COLLINS, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SEA'VER-MORGAN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DOCK CRANE.

Application filed December 8, 1919. Serial No. 343,197.

To all w ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, GLENVILLE A. COL- LINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dock Cranes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a dockcrane adapted particularly to be employed in connection with over-head mechandise transporting systems commonly known as monorail systems.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a dock crane so constructed, particularly in regard to the trolley trackways thereon and the provision for handling the trolleys which traverse the crane that merchandise can be transported elliciently between a boat being unloaded or loaded and any part of a ware-house covered by the fixed trackway system without requiring any re-handling of the merchandise.

Still further the invention aims to provide a construction such that vessel can be unloaded or loaded through the use of one or more of the dock cranes and a large number of conveying trolleys in a more or continuous manner with the different trolleys traveling in the same general direction, but without the disadvantage that one trolley as it is moving out along, or inward from a crane will cause any interruption in, or interference with the moveu'iei'it oi other trolleys.

Further the invention aims to provide means whereby the crane can accommodate at the same time at least two trolleys, and whereby the trolley which has been run out along the boom of the crane can be moved inward and turned and then shifted to the fixed trackway system with the trolley headed in the same direction as when traveling from the fixed trackway system to the crane, and with the supporting bracketor brackets which extend. down from'the wheels of the trolley constantly on the same side of the monorail track.

More specifically considered. the invention aims to provide a crane with a pair of monorail tracks adapted to extend in parallel the boom of the crane, to-- gether with a turntable by which the trolley may be transferred from one track to the other, and With switches of a practical nature by which the trolleys may be switched from the fixed trackway onto the crane and vice versa, and which will permit the passage of a trolley along the fixed trackway past the crane without passing onto the latter if desired.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein I have shown one embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a front elevation looking toward the end of the boom; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1, this view showing a partk of the turntable and the turntable trac Referring now to the drawings, 10 repre-' sents a dock or pier, adjoining which will be a ware-house, not shown, for the storage of merchandise designed to be unloaded from a boat 11. The ware-house will be equipped with a monorail system for trolleys, which system may have numerous branches or sections located so that the trolleys may deliver the merchandise to or carry it from all parts of the ware-house in which storage is desired. The monorail trackway system of the ware-house includes also an outside rail or track 12 which is traversed by the trolleys in passing to and from the crane or cranes. This monorail track preferably consists of an I-beam on which is secured an ordinary rail on the top or ball of which the wheels of the trolleys are adapted to travel. This is shown in Fig. 1. The monorails of the crane are similarly constructed.

On the pier 10 will be located one or any number, generally a plurality of cranes embodying my invention and movable along the dock parallel to the vessel being no? loaded or loaded. In this instance the crane is supported on an elevated rail 13 which may be carried .by the ware-house structure or otherwise and on a lower rail 14 on the dock, these rails being engaged respectively by wheels 15, carried by what may be termed the bridge or body part 16 crane, and wheels 15 at the bottom of a vertical leg 17 which extends downwardly from the front of the body or bridge nssreuoa r0 THE WELLMAN ends of. the

portion; 160 f theerane. Any other way of supporting the crane may, however; be em ployed. The crane may be propelled along the track rails 13 and 14. in any suitable manner by. a motor '18 which will be geared directly or indirectly to the track wheels of the crane or to part of them.

The crane comprises in addition to the body or bridge portion 6,1az'boom 1:9, pivoted at to swing vertically. When the boom lowered, in this instance it extends horizontalliy over. the boat 11 being unloaded. bobm can be raised or lowered in any siritable manner, but in this instance, my means of a'eable 2a which passes about a multi-sheave block 22 connected to the outer paint-oil the boom anal about a Inulti-sheave block 23zs'lrpporte'd at the top of the body 1:6 of the crane, than downwardly around a sheaive 24 to a motor driven dram 25.

En bhisdnstance the crane is provided with two monorails for the trolley 01' trolleys, which monoraals are designated generally by the rcfierence characters 26, 26', both being asymmetrically located with respect to the crane, and similarly constructed with an E-beam to the tiopiflange of'which is a rail on which the wheels of the trolleys travel.

The monorails 26 of the crane are comosed of several parts orsections including two parallel sections 26 which extend along thelewer side of-tlle booing two parallel section'silGP which constitute extensions of the inner ends: (if-the sections 26? when the boom is horizontal, these-seetionsilfi being carried By aturntable to be referred to presently, two sections-26 which are carried on the lower side ofithe body portion 16 of the crane and (measure extensions of the inner turntable sections 26 these sec tions 26 diverging orourving in opposite directions from the adjacent ends of the turntablesections, and finally two switch sections 26 whi-ch connect the sections 26 to the fixed monorail 12.

The switch sections 26 of the monorail tracks 26: of the crane; are importantadynncts of my invention as they assist very materiall in permi'flting the rapid unload ing of t "e boat, for, should a number of cranes be in use at the same time on the dock, the trolley traversing the fixed track pass onto a crane or can pass by the crane to another crane located" further along the dock without-any interference by one trolley with another.

These switch sections 26 are preferably in the form ofhard'steel castings or forgi ngs inountedon horizontal shafts 27, which: niav be rovided 1 with; counterweights and turntable eliminate the necessity would require a boom These switches can be operateail in. any suitable manner, either by mechanical means, or electrically. In this instance I have shown in Fig. 1 mechanical switch operating means consisting of a hand lever 29, connect" ed by movement transmitting members 30, 31: and 82 to an arm on the shaft 27 about whose axis the switch section is adapted to be swung it being tnaderstood that with this construction the switch section swings vertically,-upwardly to open position, and downwardly to closed position. lff desired, both switch sections may be mounted on one shaft 27, so that both will he swung simultaneously, or the switches may have separate mountings with separate means for their control.

Before assing to the construction and function 0 the turntable, it might be mentioned that a special track construction is provided for the tract sections 26* extending along the boom. Ordinarily it cient to have the wheels of the trolley ru n simply over the tops of the rails of the nionorail tracks, but during the loading operation there may be, and frequently is a considerable side pull on the trolley since the hoisting cables extending from the trolley may not extend vertically but downwardly and laterally from the trolley. Therefore to avoid danger of the trolley being pulled laterally off the track of the boom; I proride for each track section 26 an upper guard rail. 26. and this, as well as the main supporting rail 26 beneath is engaged by the flanges of the trolley wheels. The two rails. one directly above the other which are provided for practically the full length of the boom constitute in efi'ect a slot or upper and lower guarded guideways for the wheels of the trolley.

The two monorail tracks are provided on the crane for two purposes. Not only do they permit the use of two trolleys fo-runloading or loading purposes at one hatch at the same time, but they also with the co-operation of a movable trolley shifter in the form of a turntable with which the crane is provided, permit the trolley to be run out onto one track and after being loaded or unand transferred to the other track so that the trolley will pass from the crane headed in the right direction and with the supporting brackets always on the same side of the monorail as is desired, and this is accomplished without requiring that the trolley be run backward to thefiiced monorail '12 which might interfere with the movements of other trolleys running along the monorail 12. Further, the two separate monorails on the crane together with the 7 l of a closed loop at the outer end of'the-boem w hichloop or annost prohibitive width.

I therefore provide in the body portion 16 of the crane, directly inward from the boom, a horizontal turntable 33 having wheels 34 which travel on a circular track 35. This turntable carries.the two track sections 26* which are supported a suitable distance beneath the turntable by supporting members which depend from the latter as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It will be obvious that the turntable can be rotated by different devices, but in this instance I show for this purpose a motor 36 mounted on a platform 37 above the turntable and connected by bevel gearing 38 to a vertical shaft 39 centrally located with respect to the turntable and platform, and at its lower end connected by bevel gearing 40, to shafts 41 on which part of the turntable wheels 34 are mounted.

To transfer a trolley from one monorail of the crane to the other, the platform will be turned through a half revolution, and while the turntable is thus turned, the trolley may be locked or clamped to the track section carried by the turntable in any suitable manner to prevent any movement of the trolley before the turntable is stopped and the track sections properly aligned. Additionally, suitable means will be provided to hold or lock the turntable against movement when the turntable is in normal stationary position, and in Fig. l. l have shown a simple expedient for this purpose consisting of a locking bolt 42 which can be operated either electrically or mechanically, and which when in one position allows the turntable to be rotated through a half revolution, and when in another position extends into an opening in the periphery of the turntable so as to lock it against movement.

The trolleys which are utilized with this crane and with the tracks of the ware-house, may be of any suitable construction. In Fig. l I have shown conventionally a more or less standard type of trolley consisting of two carriages 43 and 44, suitably connected together, and one adapted to carry the operator and the controlling mechanism and the other to carry the hoisting apparatus. These carriages are supported from the trolley wheels above, by suitable brackets 45 which, of course, always extend down on the free or clear side of the monorail.

In operation, assuming that the crane is properly spotted on the dock, so that the boom when lowered is over a hatch of the boat ii. to be unloaded, a trolley is run along the track l2 in a given direction, which as before stated, is preferably the same for all the trolleys used in the system, and if this trolley is to pass onto the crane, the appropriate switch 26 is closed, whereupon the trolley will leave the track 12 and pass out onto the boom, whereupon the unloading will begin. Another trolley following after the one just mentioned, may either pass the crane, in which event the switch sections 26 will be elevated, or if it is intended to work with the particular crane under consideration, this trolley will also be run onto the crane, entering by the same switch as the preceding trolley entered, but it will generally be stopped at the turntable; then the turntable will be turned so as to transfer the trolley to the other track of the crane, whereupon this second trolley may likewise pass out along the boom to receive its load. \Vhen the first trolley is loaded, it will be run back along the boom to the turntable which will then be turned to transfer this loaded trolley to the other track section, and then the loaded trolley will pass off the crane by the second track and second switch section, and when it rides onto the stationary track 12 it will be headed in the same direction as before it entered the crane.

When the second trolley receives its load, since it was previously turned by the turntable and transported to the other track than the one on which it entered the crane, it is now headed in the right direction and will leave the crane without turning the turntable.

This operation will be repeated for all the different cranes which may be in use on the dock so that the boat can be unloaded simultaneously from a plurality of batches and the merchandise transferred from the boat tosthe ware-house with a large number of trolleys. the movement of one of which need not at any point obstruct the movement of any other trolley or delay its op oration.

Having dcscribed my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a fixed over-head lrackway system for trolleys, a dock crane provided with a part adapted to be extended over a boat to be loaded or unloaded, said crane being provided with a trolley trackway. and a switch by which a trolley traversingthe fixed trackway system may travel past the crane, or may pass onto the crane to receive or deliver a load.

2. In combination with an over-head sta tionary tl'ElCliWtlY system, a dock crane having traclrways and switches by which a trolley may traverse the system past the crane, or may travel out onto the crane to receive or deliver a load and may leave the crane and pass to the stationary trackway system with the trolley traveling in the same general. direction as when it approached the crane.

3. In combination with a stationary trackway system, a dock crane having a portion adapted to be extended over a boat to be loaded or unloaded, and provided with a plurality of tracks by which trolleys may traverse from the stationary trackwaysystein out along the crane and back to the former, together with switches for connecting the tracks of the crane to a part of the stationary traokway system.

4. In combination with a stationary overhead track, a dock crane adapted to be moved along a doeli in a direction parallel with said stationary track, and comprising a main or body portion and a movable boom, the body portion and boom having track portions along which a trolley may move to and from the stationary track laterally with respect thereto.

5. In combination with a stationary overhead track, a: dock crane adapted to be moved along a dock in a direction pera'l lel with said stationary track, and comprising a main or body portion and a movable boom, the body portion and movable boo-n1 having a plurality of tracks adapted to accommodate a phirality of trolleys which may travel along" the crane to and from the fixed track.

6. In combination with a stationary over head track, a dock crane adapted to be moved along a dock in a direction parallel with said stationery track, and comprising a main or body portion and a movable boom, the bod portion and movable boom having a plural ity of tracks adapted to accommodate a plurality of trolleys which may travel along the crane to and from the fixed track, and switches for connecting the tracks; of the crane with the Stationary track.

7. A dock crane having a portion adapted to extend over a boat to accommodate trolleys for receiving or delivering a loud, and provided with a pair of tracks for one or moretrolieys and with revolvable means for bodily turning a trolley end For end and transferring it from one track to the other while the trolley is stationary on said means.

8. A dock crane having a portion adapted to extend over a boat being unloaded or loaded; and provided with a plurality of tracks for one or more trolleys, said tracks having parallel portions and said crane havin}; means for receiving a trolley, and while the latter is stationary thereon, turning it about and transferring it from a part of one track to a parallel part of another track.

9. Ar dock crane provided with a portion adapted to extend over a boat to be unloaded or loaded, and provided with a pair of trolley tracks, together with a turntable provided with two rotary track sections located between and adapted to connect track sections inwardly of with track sections outwardly with respect to the turntable.

10. A dock crane having a portion adapted to extend over aboat to be unloaded or loaded, aiid'having a pair of tracks, the outer portions of which are parallel, and the inner znee soi portions of which diverge so that a; trolley may pass from a stationary track onto 'a: traellr of the crane and back to the former; in combination with means by which a; tri ley may be turned about and traneferred from portion of one track to a pare'ilelpertion of the other track.

11. In combination with a Stationary track o F an over-head trackway system to]: trol': leys, a dock crane having a; portion adapted to extend over a boat to be unloaded or loaded, a pair of tracks carried by the crane for one or a piurality of trolleys, the inner portions of said tracks diverging are adapted to be connected by movable switches to the fixed trark, and the outer portions said tracks being parallel, and a tmntable carried by the crane and oarrying parallel portions of the two tracks of the crane whereby a trolley may be turned about and transferred from one track to the other.

1.2. A dock cane provided with a body portion with a movable bobln' adapted to ob tend over a boat. a monorail tra'ck for 21 trolley carried part by the body portion and part by the boom of the crane, the part can ried by the boom having an upper guard rail extending parallel thereto, whereby when a trolley is' on the boom, both the upper and lower portions of the trolley wheel flailiges engage supporting and guiding rai s.

13; A dock craneprovided' wit-ha portion adapted to extend over a boat to be unloaded or loaded, and provided with a trolley track, and aturntable carried by the crane for bodily turning a trolley end for end. when the trolley is run onto the same.

1% A dock crane having a trolley track composed of inner and outer sections, and provided with a turntable having a track section adapted to connect said inner and outer sections.v said turntable serving to turn a trolley end for end when the trolley is run onto the tnrntable and the latter is rotated.

15. A dock crane provided with a portion adapted to extend over a boat to be loaded or unloaded, and provided with a pair of trolley tracks including inner portions and substantially parallel outer portions, and a movable trolley shifter carried by the crane and located between said inner and outer portions of the trolley tracks and servihg when shifted to move the trolley from one oi said tracks to the other.

In testimony whereof. I hereunto afiiX my signature.

GLENVILLE A. GOLEINS. 

